Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes
Récits d’un bourgeois de Valenciennes aka The Chronicle of a Bourgeois of Valenciennes is a vivid 14th-century vernacular chronicle written by an anonymous urban chronicler from Valenciennes in the County of Hainaut. It survives in a manuscript that describes local and regional history from about 1253 to 1366, blending chronology, narrative episodes, and eyewitness-style accounts of political, military, and social events in medieval France, Flanders, and the Low Countries. The work begins with a chronological framework of events affecting Valenciennes and its region under rulers such as King Philip VI of France and the shifting allegiances of local nobility. It includes accounts of conflicts, sieges, diplomatic manoeuvres, and the impact of broader struggles like the Hundred Years’ War on urban life in Hainaut. Written from the perspective of a burgher (bourgeois) rather than a monastery or royal court, the chronicle offers a rare lay viewpoint on high politics and warfare, reflecting how merchants, townspeople, and civic institutions experienced the turbulence of the 13th and 14th centuries. Its narrative style combines straightforward reporting of events with moral and civic observations, making it a valuable source for readers interested in medieval urban society, regional politics, and the lived experience of war and governance in pre-modern Europe.
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Paternal Family Tree: Colley
Maternal Family Tree: Maria Skerritt 1702-1738
On 20th September 1803 [his father] Henry Wellesley 1st Baron Cowley (age 30) and [his mother] Charlotte Cadogan Marchioness Anglesey (age 22) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Charles Sloane Cadogan 1st Earl Cadogan (age 74) and [his grandmother] Mary Churchill Countess Cadogan (age 45). He the son of Garrett Wellesley 1st Earl Mornington and Anne Hill Countess Mornington (age 61).
On 17th June 1804 Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley was born to [his father] Henry Wellesley 1st Baron Cowley (age 31) and [his mother] Charlotte Cadogan Marchioness Anglesey (age 22) at Hertford Street.
In 1810 [his father] Henry Wellesley 1st Baron Cowley (age 36) and [his mother] Charlotte Cadogan Marchioness Anglesey (age 28) were divorced by an Act of Parliament following her elopement with [his step-father] Henry Paget (age 41). Following the divorce, Wellesley was awarded £20,000 plus costs in damages against Paget.
On 29th November 1810 [his step-father] Henry William Paget 1st Marquess Anglesey (age 42) and Caroline Elizabeth Villiers Duchess Argyll (age 35) were divorced by an act of Parliament as a result of his having had an affair with [his mother] Charlotte Cadogan Marchioness Anglesey (age 29) whose husband [his father] Henry Wellesley 1st Baron Cowley (age 37) also sought a divorce.
After 19th December 1810 [his step-father] Henry William Paget 1st Marquess Anglesey (age 42) and [his mother] Charlotte Cadogan Marchioness Anglesey (age 29) were married. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Charles Sloane Cadogan 1st Earl Cadogan and [his grandmother] Mary Churchill Countess Cadogan (age 52). He the son of Henry Bayly-Paget 1st Earl Uxbridge (age 66) and Jane Champagné Countess Uxbridge (age 68).
On 4th July 1815 [his step-father] Henry William Paget 1st Marquess Anglesey (age 47) was created 1st Marquess Anglesey. [his mother] Charlotte Cadogan Marchioness Anglesey (age 33) by marriage Marchioness Anglesey.
Around 1817 Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 12) educated at Eton College [Map].
Before 1821 [his father] Henry Wellesley 1st Baron Cowley (age 47) and [his step-mother] Georgiana Charlotte Augusta Cecil Baroness Cowley were married. She the daughter of James Cecil 1st Marquess Salisbury (age 72) and Mary Amelia Hill Marchioness Salisbury (age 70). He the son of [his grandfather] Garrett Wellesley 1st Earl Mornington and [his grandmother] Anne Hill Countess Mornington (age 78). They were second cousin once removed.
In January 1822 Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 17) was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford University.
The History of William Marshal was commissioned by his son shortly after William’s death in 1219 to celebrate the Marshal’s remarkable life; it is an authentic, contemporary voice. The manuscript was discovered in 1861 by French historian Paul Meyer. Meyer published the manuscript in its original Anglo-French in 1891 in two books. This book is a line by line translation of the first of Meyer’s books; lines 1-10152. Book 1 of the History begins in 1139 and ends in 1194. It describes the events of the Anarchy, the role of William’s father John, John’s marriages, William’s childhood, his role as a hostage at the siege of Newbury, his injury and imprisonment in Poitou where he met Eleanor of Aquitaine and his life as a knight errant. It continues with the accusation against him of an improper relationship with Margaret, wife of Henry the Young King, his exile, and return, the death of Henry the Young King, the rebellion of Richard, the future King Richard I, war with France, the death of King Henry II, and the capture of King Richard, and the rebellion of John, the future King John. It ends with the release of King Richard and the death of John Marshal.
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In January 1828 [his father] Henry Wellesley 1st Baron Cowley (age 54) was created 1st Baron Cowley. [his step-mother] Georgiana Charlotte Augusta Cecil Baroness Cowley by marriage Baroness Cowley.
In 1831 [his brother-in-law] Robert Grosvenor 1st Baron Ebury (age 29) and [his sister] Charlotte Arbuthnot Wellesley Baroness Ebury (age 23) were married. She the daughter of [his father] Henry Wellesley 1st Baron Cowley (age 57) and [his mother] Charlotte Cadogan Marchioness Anglesey (age 49). He the son of Robert Grosvenor 1st Marquess Westminster (age 63) and Eleanor Egerton Marchioness Westminster (age 60).
On 4th August 1832 [his brother-in-law] John Robert Townshend 1st Earl Sydney (age 26) and [his illegitimate half-sister] Emily Paget Countess Sydney (age 22) were married. She the illegitmate daughter of [his step-father] Henry William Paget 1st Marquess Anglesey (age 64) and [his mother] Charlotte Cadogan Marchioness Anglesey (age 51).
On 25th August 1834 [his son] William Henry Wellesley 2nd Earl Cowley was born to Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 30). He married 8th August 1863 Emily Gwendoline Williams Countess Cowley and had issue.
In 1838 [his daughter] Feodorowna Cecilia Wellesley Viscountess Bertie Thame was born to Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 33). She married 1874 Francis Bertie 1st Viscount Bertie Thame, son of Montagu Bertie 6th Earl of Abingdon and Elizabeth Lavinia Harcourt Countess Abingdon, and had issue.
On 6th September 1838 [his brother-in-law] John William Montagu 7th Earl Sandwich (age 26) and [his half-sister] Mary Paget Countess Sandwich (age 26) were married. She by marriage Countess Sandwich. She the daughter of [his step-father] Henry William Paget 1st Marquess Anglesey (age 70) and [his mother] Charlotte Cadogan Marchioness Anglesey (age 57). He the son of George Montagu 6th Earl Sandwich and Louisa Lowry-Corry Countess of Sandwich (age 57).
On 3rd March 1840 [his daughter] Sophia Georgiana Robertina Wellesley Countess Hardwicke was born to Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 35). She married 1863 Charles Philip "Champagne Charlie" Yorke 5th Earl of Hardwicke, son of Charles Yorke 4th Earl of Hardwicke and Susan Liddell Countess Hardwicke, and had issue.
In 1842 [his son] Cecil Charles Foley Wellesley was born to Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 37).
On 24th May 1844 [his son] Frederick Arthur Wellesley was born to Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 39). He married (1) 1873 Emma Loftus (2) 1884 Kate Vaughan (3) 1904 Evelyn Katrine Gwenfra Williams Duchess Wellington.
On 27th April 1847 [his father] Henry Wellesley 1st Baron Cowley (age 74) died. His son Henry (age 42) succeeded 2nd Baron Cowley.
On 2nd February 1852 Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 47) was appointed Privy Council.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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On 8th July 1853 [his mother] Charlotte Cadogan Marchioness Anglesey (age 71) died.
On 11th April 1857 Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 52) was created 1st Earl Cowley, 1st Viscount Dangan of Meath.
In September 1857 [his brother-in-law] Robert Grosvenor 1st Baron Ebury (age 56) was created 1st Baron Ebury. [his sister] Charlotte Arbuthnot Wellesley Baroness Ebury (age 49) by marriage Baroness Ebury.
On 20th February 1859 [his half-sister] Mary Paget Countess Sandwich (age 46) died. Her remains were moved to All Saints Church, Barnwell [Map] on 16th June 1884.
In 1863 [his son-in-law] Charles Philip "Champagne Charlie" Yorke 5th Earl of Hardwicke (age 26) and Sophia Georgiana Robertina Wellesley Countess Hardwicke (age 22) were married. She the daughter of Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 58). He the son of Charles Yorke 4th Earl of Hardwicke (age 63) and Susan Liddell Countess Hardwicke (age 52).
On 8th August 1863 William Henry Wellesley 2nd Earl Cowley (age 28) and Emily Gwendoline Williams Countess Cowley (age 24) were married. He the son of Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 59).
The Times. 3rd February 1866. Her Majesty (age 46) drove out yesterday morning and afternoon. Mr. Engleheart arrived at Osborne on Thursday, and had the honour of dining with Her Majesty and the Royal family yesterday. The Queen held a Council today, which was attended by Earl Russell (age 73), Earl de Grey and Ripon (age 38), and Mr. Guschen.
Mr. Helps was Clerk of the Council.
Earl Cowley (age 61), [his brother-in-law] Viscount Sydney (age 60), and Sir Charles Young (age 70), Garter, arrived from London this morning. Lord Cowley was introduced by Lord Sydney, Lord Chamberlain (Sir Charles Young attending with the insignia of the Order of the Garter), and Her Majesty invested Lord Cowley with the Riband and Badge of the Garter.
Earl Russell and Earl de Grey had audiences of Her Majesty.
Note. On 3rd February 1866 Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley was appointed 747th Knight of the Garter by Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.
In 1873 Frederick Arthur Wellesley (age 28) and Emma Loftus were married. He the son of Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 68).
In 1874 [his son-in-law] Francis Bertie 1st Viscount Bertie Thame (age 29) and Feodorowna Cecilia Wellesley Viscountess Bertie Thame (age 36) were married. She the daughter of Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 69). He the son of Montagu Bertie 6th Earl of Abingdon (age 65) and Elizabeth Lavinia Harcourt Countess Abingdon.
In 1882 [his son] Frederick Arthur Wellesley (age 37) and [his daughter-in-law] Emma Loftus were divorced.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
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In 1884 Frederick Arthur Wellesley (age 39) and Kate Vaughan (age 32) were married. He the son of Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 79).
On 15th July 1884 Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley (age 80) died at 20 Albermarle Street. He was buried at Draycott, Wiltshire. His son William (age 49) succeeded 2nd Earl Cowley, 2nd Viscount Dangan of Meath, 3rd Baron Cowley. Emily Gwendoline Williams Countess Cowley (age 45) by marriage Countess Cowley.
Kings Wessex: Great x 26 Grand Son of King Edmund "Ironside" I of England
Kings Gwynedd: Great x 23 Grand Son of Owain "Great" King Gwynedd
Kings Seisyllwg: Great x 29 Grand Son of Hywel "Dda aka Good" King Seisyllwg King Deheubarth
Kings Powys: Great x 24 Grand Son of Maredudd ap Bleddyn King Powys
Kings England: Great x 19 Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Kings Scotland: Great x 25 Grand Son of King Duncan I of Scotland
Kings Franks: Great x 33 Grand Son of Charles "Charlemagne aka Great" King of the Franks King Lombardy Holy Roman Emperor
Kings France: Great x 27 Grand Son of Hugh I King of the Franks
Kings Duke Aquitaine: Great x 31 Grand Son of Ranulf I Duke Aquitaine
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Colley
Great x 1 Grandfather: Richard Colley aka Wesley 1st Baron Mornington
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Ussher of Bridgefoot
Great x 2 Grandmother: Mary Ussher
GrandFather: Garrett Wellesley 1st Earl Mornington
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Sale
Father: Henry Wellesley 1st Baron Cowley
Great x 4 Grandfather: Arthur Hill
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Hill
Great x 2 Grandfather: Michael Hill
Great x 1 Grandfather: Arthur Hill aka Hill-Trevor 1st Viscount Dungannon
GrandMother: Anne Hill Countess Mornington
Henry Richard Charles Wellesley 1st Earl Cowley 19 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Henry Cadogan
Great x 3 Grandfather: William Cadogan
Great x 2 Grandfather: Henry Cadogan
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Cadogan 2nd Baron Cadogan
Great x 4 Grandfather: George Waller
Great x 3 Grandfather: Hardress Waller
Great x 2 Grandmother: Bridget Waller
GrandFather: Charles Sloane Cadogan 1st Earl Cadogan
Great x 3 Grandfather: Alexander Sloane
Great x 2 Grandfather: Hans Sloane 1st Baronet
Great x 1 Grandmother: Elizabeth Sloane Baroness Cadogan
Mother: Charlotte Cadogan Marchioness Anglesey
18 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Winston Churchill
Great x 3 Grandfather: General Charles Churchill
14 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandmother: Elizabeth Drake 13 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 2 Grandfather: Charles Churchill
15 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
Great x 1 Grandfather: Charles Churchill
16 x Great Grand Son of King Edward I of England
GrandMother: Mary Churchill Countess Cadogan
17 x Great Grand Daughter of King Edward I of England
Great x 4 Grandfather: Edward Walpole of Houghton
Great x 3 Grandfather: Colonel Robert Walpole
Great x 4 Grandmother: Susan Crane
Great x 2 Grandfather: Robert Walpole 1st Earl Orford
Great x 1 Grandmother: Maria Walpole
Great x 2 Grandmother: Maria Skerritt